Ohio Senate adopts resolution urging Congress to allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. during school year

The Ohio Senate on Tuesday adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 3, urging Congress to amend the federal Fair Labor Standards Act so that 14- and 15-year-old students may be employed between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. during the school year with parental and school consent. The chamber approved the resolution by voice and roll call, recorded as 24 yays and 9 nays.

Sponsor Senator Schaefer told colleagues the change would help employers with staffing and give teens work experience, noting the proposal would preserve existing guardrails on minors’ work hours. “This resolution reinforces the guardrails protecting 14 and 15 year olds that are already in code,” Schaefer said on the floor.

Opponents raised safety and child-welfare concerns. Senator Ingram said child-labor rules exist to protect young people and urged a no vote, arguing that allowing later hours could expose vulnerable students to risk and “put Ohio on a slippery slope.” The resolution does not change state law; it urges federal action to expand permissible evening hours when parents and schools consent.

The resolution was presented to the Senate during the morning session and carried no binding change to Ohio law; it is a formal request that Congress consider amending the federal statute. The clerk completed a roll call after debate and the chamber recorded 24 yays and 9 nays.

Because the resolution is nonbinding, no implementation steps at the state level were required. Senate sponsors noted the resolution complements companion state legislation that was considered separately on the same day.